In September 2016, the Government of Canada launched the national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (the MMIWG Inquiry) – a public, independent inquiry mandated to examine and report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence that Indigenous women and girls experience, and to recommend concrete action to end this violence.

The MMIWG Inquiry is currently accepting applications for standing (i.e. the right to participate) from interested parties. The deadline to submit these applications has recently been extended, from Monday April 10, 2017 to Tuesday April 18, 2017. Applicants seeking standing can also apply for funding.

Application forms and instructions for both standing and funding are available on the Inquiry’s website: http://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/. Applicants will be notified in writing whether or not their applications for standing and funding have been accepted.

Note that family members of missing or murdered Indigenous women and girls and survivors of violence who want to share their experiences do nothave to apply for standing – their expenses related to hearing testimony and attendance (e.g. travel, meals, childcare, etc.) will be covered by the Inquiry.

Background

The MMIWG Inquiry is a public inquiry established under Part I of the federal Inquiries Act, and is made up of five Commissioners from across the country. The commission has also been established under provincial and territorial inquiries’ legislation, which means the commission is able to look into federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions as part of the Inquiry. That said, the commission is entirely independent from federal, provincial and territorial governments.

Specifically, the commission has been directed to:

recommend concrete actions to remove systemic causes of violence and increase the safety of Indigenous women and girls in Canada;

recommend ways to honour and commemorate missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls; and

provide its recommendations to the Government of Canada through an interim report by November 1, 2017 and a final report by November 1, 2018.

The MMIW Inquiry is targeted to complete its mandate by December 31, 2018.